Natasha Woodall Quezada 12/04/11 Chapter 11 Summary This chapter breaks down all the web 2.0 tools discussed in the book. The tools are broken down into sections.
Annotation and note taking
Audio and Podcast tools
Blogs
Calendars
Collaborative writing tools
Idea or Mind mapping
Educator and Student communities
Communication and online discussion tools
Content management systems and learning spaces
Online whiteboards
Maps
Microblogging and microblog readers
Photo editing and photo sharing
Presentation and video editing tools
Publishing and drawing tools
Portals and social bookmarking
Quiz and activities generators
Timelines
Video conferencing
Video sharing
Virtual worlds
Wikis
Other tools
Each section different in length depending on what each web tool provides and each tool is briefly explained with their website to go to. This makes it an easy reference tool for teachers and anyone looking for web 2.0 information.
Natasha Woodall Quezada
11-30-11
Chapter 10 Summary
Audacity- multitrack audio editor and recorder, an easy to teach in the class. Record audio and store on computer as digital audio. Edit, fade, mix, effects, convert, and change speed. Used as a podcast students accomplish authentic learning. Students become more responsible for their work because others can hear their podcast products. http://audacity.sourceforge.net Delicious- Tagging of websites that become accessable from any computer and a build in network to share your tagged sites. Also a search engine. In a classroom students can see what websites the teacher has tagged and may have a note attached telling what each site is for. http://delicious.com Diigo- Similar to Delicious but you can also highlight, comment, skickynote, share on twitter, blog, or other social media. Teacher can create profile-less files for those students under 13 years old. www.diigo.com Drupal- Allows groups/ individuals to manage their online content. School districts can use for their homepages, parent/student interactive website. www.skyline.org While using a hosting company such as www.site5.com you can automatically have Drupal installed. Evernote- You can clip text, images, audio, PDF files and save them to one location. This helps students organize notes and info for research, text, photo, video that students can use on their phone, PC, or IPod. www.evernote.com Google Earth- You can view the world, 3-D buildings, and students can view where they live and other places they may be researching. In the new ocean layer, you can plunge all the way to the floor of the sea. http://earth.google.com Google Forms (Surveys)- To make an online survey form. When respondents submit results, it is automatically populates a Google spreadsheet. To sign in you need a Google account. Google Reader and custom RSS feeds- Enables users to subscribe to a news source, blog, or webpage that is continually updated. http://reader.google.com Issuu- A digital publishing platform for student’s work. Students can publish their work such as poetry booklets, comic books, and other creative works. http://issuu.com Moodle- A course management system that is a safe online learning center for teachers and students to work in. http://moodle.org Netvibes- Content aggregator site that pulls information from different sites and displays the information onto one site. You can create a new website for free without ads. Teachers can keep track of student’s blogs through this site. www.netvibes.com Skype- Is videoconferencing system that allows you to see and talk to another person. You can also transfer files, call a landline phone, and text. www.skype.com/download Timetoast- An online timeline creation tool. A timeline allows for students to understand, organize, and remember information. www.timetoast.com Today’s meet- A teacher can create a private chatroom for students and the teacher gains instant feedback about student comprehension. http://todaysmeet.com Voice thread- Students can setup presentations that include voice, video, text, or images, while allowing others to add to the presentation. http://voicethread.com Voki- Students can personalize speaking avatars that can be embedded into any online space, such as websites, blogs, or wikis. www.voki.com WizIQ- Is a virtual classroom environment that teachers and students communicate through videoconferencing. www.wiziq.com Wordle- Creates word clouds from text- the most frequently used words creating a picture. www.wordle.net
I found that each one of these would be useful to use in the classroom. Some more than others.
Natasha Woodall Quezada 11-16-11 Chapter 9 Summary Web 2.0 allows persons to write blogs, post images and videos, collaborate on documents, socialize, and others write comment on them. Web 3.0 is the semantic web where machines can read web pages much as humans can read them. Web 4.0 is deliverable and is based on who you are and what you do and what you need, it’s about activity. It is ideal to provide schools and students with web access and customizable personal devices for every student. Teachers will be able to teach the students in a learning style they are most comfortable with. All the tools will be easy to access: images, voice, video, and more. Technology plays an important role in communication from the presidential election to our own personal use. The ability to use emails, websites, blogs, and other resources to let others know what you want to say allow you to have a voice and have it heard. When students have outside access to worldly news they are kept up to date with current news and have the ability to access people who know about the subject they are researching, and many other possibilities. Through wikis and other online processing tools students and teachers conduct collaboration to each other and students within the networks. Schools can also take advantage of the web through textbooks online. Not only will students have up to date materials but the schools will save money as well. By having lower cost technologies more children will have educational opportunities. Net-books and cell phones are the new laptops. They are small and convenient and encourage anytime, anywhere learning. I Pad, IPod, and cell phones allow students to blog, make comments, and discuss what the teacher has posted at an 24/7 convenience. Students who use the I Pad, IPod, or any other device they can use apps that the teacher has provided and also personalize the device with their own educational apps. When students personalize their web pages, home pages, or anything to do with the web, they are not only personalizing it to meet their needs they are also learning from their experience. Students can pull information from sites to find information. Technology is the present and is more so the future. The teachers also learn how the students learn by reading their posts and observing how they utilize the web system. The teacher can make assessments through the past work that is posted online by each individual student. Cloud service allows for all the information to be stored online and available to anyone who needs it and has access to it. Technology is different than it was when it first began. The web is more accessible through many resources and they are being used to teach, communicate, and collaborate. Natasha Woodall Quezada 11-10-11 Chapter 8 summary A wiki is a program to create projects that involve writing, editing, adding elements like images and videos. When students as ourselves are asked to produce assignments as a group, like our group or class wiki. We are writing what we learn. Wikipedia is a public wiki. The benefits of a wiki in a classroom include group collaboration, problem solving, peer editing during writing process and electronic portfolios. Students have 24/7 access to the wiki. Each member can build upon what another member wrote and peer editing makes the work clearer. This encourages each writer to take responsibility of their actions and accountability. Teachers can also use to track the work that each student has done. Teachers use wikis to foster collaborative learning. Along with group work the teacher sets expectations, due dates, and constant flow of feedback throughout the development of the project. The teacher also tracks the students work progress. The editing is basic so the students focus on the message and not the format. As students use the wiki they can learn to respect the contributions and thinking of others and take pride in the results. When teachers use wikis in the professional environment to share with their teaching community they begin to develop professional development. They obtain this goal by providing their post of new found information, sharing the information, their strategies, thoughts, lessons, and to build on one another’s work. Also students of all ages are using wikis, ranging from elementary school to college and international schools. When starting a wiki, you need to know what kind you want to use. www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers is where you would go to set up a wiki. Once you have made a wiki, then you can visit: www.educause.edu/eli/7thingsyoushouldknowaboutwikis/156807 for more information. __ Natasha Woodall Quezada11-02-11Chapter 7What are virtual environments? “They are online interactive systems in which multiple people sometimes millions of people share in the development of an interactive narrative.” One who uses those gains development of creativity, collaboration, and communication.Why are they useful? Virtual environments focus on social interaction such as Second Life- 3D. The user gets to meet others, join groups, socialize, participate in activities and professional development, and buy and sell property. Second Life if for those 18 years and older. Teen Second Life if for those 13-17 years old. Http://secondclassroom.ning.com is for teachers to support and collaborate, with others using Second Life. One group of social studies educators said, “They learn, collaborate, and share information to enhance their professional development and professional network. One study showed that students using virtual environments like MUVE found larger gains in understanding and achievement then students who didn’t use virtual environments. These resources engage minds, promote learning, encourage creative thinking, support inquiry based learning, conceptual understanding, encourage divergent and exploratory thinking.When are virtual environments used? If teachers want students to think and act like “journalists, artists, business managers, or engineers by using digital learning technologies to solve realistic complex performance task they will have students use epistemic games. These require students to work in teams, study materials presented, and develop a hypothesis regarding the cause of the disease. http://crlt.indiana.edu/research/qa.html is for students 9-12 years old. When students are working on these virtual environments they still need feedback from the teacher, reflection time, and an on-going instruction system.What about professional development? Teachers that are members of Second Life hold meetings and social events on site. They plan projects, share ideas, develop close friendships and all while communicating in real time.Who is using virtual environments? Preteens- www.webkins.com, children- www.clubpenguin.com, Second Life 18 years and up, Teen Second Life 13-17 years. Students learn by doing.How do you get started with a virtual environment? Before starting anything with your students you should become familiar with the program first. If in Second Life use http://secondlife.com and start at the orientation Island Public center. The International Society for Technology in Education for weekly meetings and discussions are found.Where can you find more information? http://simtech.com, www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=second_life:_educators_working_with_teens, and www.holymeatballs.org/pdfs/bestpractices.pdf.
_ Natasha Woodall Quezada
10-26-11
Chapter 6 Summary
Many students are visual learners. Students use cell phones, computers, TV, and hand held devices to communicate. Students must develop the skills to process and analyze information delivered through images as well as understand the impact images have on a viewer. Students must also develop the ability to think critically about the image presented and decode its meaning. Web delivered tools, videos, and presentations are also tools that the students use. Teachers can encourage students to create presentation that develop skills of inquiry, creative, and higher order thinking. When students create presentations these skill are developed as well as many others, which include:
Discover relationships among ideas
Develop new concepts and insights
Collaborate with others
Feed back on their ideas
Relationship with others
Communicate with real audiences
Gain ownership of their work
Commitment to learning
Teachers use digital storytelling as a video and photo tool. This helps students to improve thinking skills by encouraging them to write creatively and express themselves visually. www.flickr.com allows students to take, edit, post, and include their own photos. When students are encouraged to make video documentaries they engage themselves with the subject, learn, understand, and remember the information. Teachers use these documentaries as an assessment tool. These tools can evaluate student learning from the perspective of applying skills rather than from remembering facts for tests. www.teachertube.com students can post their videos for teacher, parents, and everyone to see. http://nhsglobalwarmingdocumentary.edublogs.org show how the entire process of creating video documentaries worked in her classroom.Teachers and students use video and photo tools for many different subjects some of these include:
Voice thread- this has helped with narration of family photos.
www.toondoo.com this is to create cartoons that express information and opinion.
www.voki.com this is to create an avatar with dialog.
There are many ways to get started. Some of the resources are outlined in this summary, Picasa, and windows live moviemaker is also a good way to start.
Natasha Woodall Quezada10-19-11Chapter 5 Summary“The point of communicating with others is to learn, develop, and expand all that we know; to share ideas and information; or just to enjoy social interaction.” Social networking allows users to create links to web pages or collection of photos. Web based in turn means interaction over the internet. People can affiliate themselves with others with the same interest or ideas. Some communities such as teachers- discussing curriculum, assessments, or pedagogy, game players, and many others. www.whatissocialnetworking.com is an explanatory web site to how to use social networking. Tagging is another form of social networking. There are collaborative tagging, social classification, social tagging, and social indexing. Comments or artifacts, such as pictures are tagged as a way to categorize content.Social networking is a useful tool because humans are social creatures and we want to communicate with others. Some forms of social networks include: My Space, Facebook, Linkedin, ning, Nexopia, and many others. 60% of students reported that one of the most common topics of conversation on the social networking scene was education and 50% was of school work. You can also create your own social network. Ning is one for teachers and for teachers to use with students. This website allows for students to catch up on work, post questions and concerns, collaborate on projects, and many other reasons.Within the classroom teachers use social networking to enhance behaviorism, constructivism, and enhance social cultural perspectives. Most students already use social networks and teachers can use this as one of the abilities the students have already acquired. Teachers also benefit from social networks through the learning communities that they are connected to and having access to other teacher’s favorite websites. Twitter is another form of social network. It allows for a question to be sent out and others can answer the question to help. Some websites that have been integrated into the classrooms are http://projectpeace.ning.com , http://museumsweb20.ning.com and many more to benefit further education.Getting started with social networking, most websites walk you through the process when you log onto the website. Some that might seem useful maybe: www.ning.com , www.teachingforchange.org, or www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_kf7tykvc
_ Natasha Woodall Quezada 10-12-11 Chapter 4 Summary Productivity applications are typical tools that the computer has, such as word processing and presentation tools, except they are free and stored on company’s servers. These are reachable by those who have access from any connection to the web. These programs store information securely while remaining online. The files you compose can also be downloaded to your computer. The web site http://docs.google.com/templates?category=7&sort=hottest&pli=1 is a helpful website.Productivity applications such as Google doc not only have the same programs that the computer has it also allows you to create 3-D models and publish websites. http://sketchup.google.com , http://reader.google.com , www.zoho.comThere are many reasons why teachers and students use these tools. One is to have information whenever it is needed. No need to worry about which flash drive has the information. Two when teachers use Web 2.0 tools there are no upgrade expenses. These programs automatically upgrade without charging. Three the information stored with these tools online are private and only those who have access can see the information. Four the information can be shared publically for discussions or feedback. One note is that the Web 2.0 tools are not as easy to use as the programs on the computers.Teacher’s goals and purposes have been to make public the types of development, creativity, and other activities that their students do. Many teachers write blogs on what they use these tools for. The activities range from collaborative writing assignments, to students taking quizzes on line, and posting the syllabus for class.Professional development happens in universities as well as in the regular school setting. They use these programs to communicate with authors and participate in cooperative learning groups. School officials prepare workshop outlines for info to teach the teachers and many other useful techniques. Teachers and students use the Web 2.0 tools. Teachers communicate to each other. Teachers and students can interact with other teachers and students from different countries.How to get started with productivity tools.vReview Google docs at http://docs.google.com/present/view?skipauth=true&id=ddnctvgt_170cbskf68vCreate an account- this is free for individually or a fee for classroom accounts (students will need an email and be 13 years of age)vOnce you have your own account you can now create a word processing file, spreadsheet, or a presentation.vTo share your work, Click on the share tabOther websites to visit are: www.google.com/educators/learning_materials/we_cribsheet.pdfwww.youtube.com/watch?v=typjJK6LZdmhttp://vodpod.com/watch/497154-google-docs-in-plain-english
_ Natasha Woodall Quezada10-05-11Chapter 3 SummaryA podcast is an audio or video net-cast file and a vodcast is a video podcast and can be delivered live as it happens. Special software known as a pod-catcher (such as ITunes) is used for access, updates, and downloads.Once you have downloaded these files you can use them offline and keep them as long as you like. Podcast are useful for classes because if the class is following an event you as a teacher can have instant up to date information about that topic. Teachers use podcasts because they are user friendly and convenient even preschool students have been able to use them. Educators have integrated podcasts and vodcasts in the classroom by having the students create their own.
www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/sdue/podcasts.cfm written by 7th gradersWhen students write their own podcasts they are more committed to their activity, more engaged, practice their writing skills, presentation skills, collaborative writing skills and team work.On podcasts educators can find prepared lesson that can support lessons with stories, musical instruments, and many more. Safety is always an issue when students are on the internet. There are “kid friendly” websites such as: kid-cast.com or kids.podcast.com.Teachers are always finding new areas to learn about and these websites can help find the topics: www.digitalpodcast.com and www.apple.com/itunes/ . Podcast not only help teacher and students but it also allows for parent engagement.To get started with a cast you can go to http://radio.about.com/od/podcastin1/a/aa0300805a.htm this web site will walk you through the steps to making a cast. If you are an educator you should complete your own cast before teaching students how to create their own casts. More web sites that are available are www.poducateme.com/guide and www.ehow.com/how_2029095_plan-podcast-class-lecture.html.I like how the author has included websites to go in order to find the information. _
Natasha Woodall Quezada
Chapter 2 summary
09/28/11
What is a microblog?
A microblog is a program that allows you as a writer to send short messages in a fast amount of time to multiple readers. Twitter is an example of a microblog. Twitter is a mixture of blogging and text messaging that has a character limitation. This is a social network that motivates the writer to be clear and to the point. Writers can follow other writer's tweets, limit their audiences, or make their tweets available to the public. Twitter has excelled because of the convience to communicate from many sources such as cell phones at any given time. Twitter has also branched out into other online applications.
Why is twitter a useful tool?
Along with the general public educators also use twitter. The teachers use this as a source to gain information or advice quickly. There is also twitters for specially for teachers where they can search for each other. Most benefit from twitting by gaining communication with other professionals and finding dates of professional development courses.
When do teacher use twitter?
Teacher integrate twitter into the classroom for many reasons. When students use twitter they gain a voice an an audience from not only classmates but possibly peers in different grades within the same school. Students also gain communication and writing skills through writing tweets.
Who is using microblogging for teaching?
Teachers from all areas of study use twitter in science class to math classes. Teachers use this time to have students post their predictions about discussions related to class. Teachers have also gone through tweets and prepared questions for the students to answer. Teachers can also have choice options for students choose. Once chosen the students continue the stories that were started by the teacher by tweeting.
How do you get started with twitter?
*Go to twitter.com__
*Fill in your name
*Make a user name and password
*Click create my account
*Go to settings
*Create a profile
*Check "protect my updates box"
*You can authorize users as you go along.
Natasha Woodall Quezada09-21-11Summary of Chapter 1What is a blog? An easy to use internet source that invites others to provide feedback on comments or questions made. Anyone respond to the blogs and students are included. If students follow a blog they are pushed to think carefully about what they write and how they write it because the blog is public. A blog has the most resent info posted first. This makes it easier to follow. Blog tools are useful because it helps learners get to the point. Blogs help “develop thinking, analytical, and communication skills.” Blogs can also include videos and links to other web sites, these can be the starter of the blog topic or back up for the responder.Teachers are also among those who blog. Teachers use blogs in the classroom setting. When students are asked to blog instead of writing just for the teacher, they write more thoughtfully and have a feeling of accomplishment because the post is instantaneous. Teachers can direct the students to be creative with the blogs by including multimedia. Teachers can pull current information from a blog that is from another teacher of school official. Teachers can discuss the new information together and also have a “time to process literature that might otherwise be overlooked.”Students need to know how to collaborate with others and the blog allows for them “accept constructive criticism in their learning community.” Communication between students is a given with blogs. Students will gain the skills to communicate effectively through their carful thinking and the helpful comments from the other students. Through blogs students can gain connections from the wider world and understand that what they say can impact the world. When posting or responding to a blog the student needs to think critically which includes “a logical set of facts, ideas, and persuasive arguments.” The blogs add to the information literacy for the responder. A blog can become a digital portfolio because the writers skills are kept in the blog and the teacher can see the growth of the skills over time.Who is using blogging for teaching and learning? High risk 11th grade learners showed that they learned and felt comfortable at the same time. A Teacher in middle school saw the motivation that came with the blogging of the books they read and discussed with team mates. In Spanish and humanities classes the middle school teacher found that the students were “continuously writing their comments.” An 11th grade child development class was asked to blog about their experiences they had when they visited a Head start class. The “students took ownership of their own learning.” A high school teacher found that when the students blogged the “impacts on learning included, engagement, community building, accountability, and ethical researching.” An elementary teacher had the students explain their position of why their animal should be saved. In an elementary school the school mascot can be taken to places with students and staff and write a blog about where the mascot has been.How do you get started with blogs? First log into www.blogger.com/start. Second fill out form with contact information. Third name your blog. Fourth enter a blog address. Fifth choose a template. Sixth write your first blog. There are five rules to blogging. First read carefully. Second consider the blogs strengths and weaknesses. Third start with the strengths. Forth give specifics to the nice things you say. And the fifth is to give constructive criticism.To assess students for blogs, first “ask what the student did well, second think of how well reasoned the writing of the student was, third how well developed was the writing, fourth to what extent was their writing analytical about the topic, fifth how well did they communicate their thinking, and sixth to what extent did their blog generate real discussion?”You can find more information about blogging on the web. Also if you don’t like your blog you can delete it and start over.
__ Natasha Woodall QuezadaSummary of Introduction09-19-11The students in our classes have been introduced to digital tools and how to use those most of their lives. Students need guidance to use these tools instead of playing with them. As a teacher I need to know how, when, and which digital tool to use when the opportunity arises.Students use online resources in their everyday lives. This is the future. Teachers that use technology in their classrooms were asked how it helped and “38% said that it helped with project based learning, 29% said that it helped increase critical thinking skills, and 24 % reported that it resulted in a strong ability to communicate. The main focus in technology is for teachers to obtain professional development to distinguish which particular tool to use at any given time.For the communication aspect students may work harder because their work can be viewed by other students. The students can communicate to each other by commenting on their work and giving positive feedback. Students can collaborate together by posting ideas and getting feedback from each other. This allows for the teacher to track changes and watch the students’ progress. Students learn interactively. The best way for students to learn is to learn connectedness. This is taking the knowledge they have and building upon it. Creating an electronic community of learners will combine tools, work, peers, and audiences together to help students find groups of those who share common interests. We as teachers want to help students learn how to elevate the “distractions between basic and higher order thinking skills.Contextualization is the tagging and metadata that can help students take understood knowledge and apply it to new and different situations. Web 2.0 applications help students “use applications online, store documents online, and find lessons and other students online”. Thus, helping schools “provide and immediate picture of student learning”. New tools that are available online are at no cost to use. There may be training needed but as far as the cost of those online tools there is no cost. Students will be able to learn in new ways and widen their horizon.There are some things to watch out for since the students “know” more about the web and technology than teachers do. Students need to be guided as to how to use the web properly and abide by the copyright laws and plagiarism. Also when students collaborate together as a community, some student may reiterate what they read from the other students instead of thinking on their own. Teachers and principals “understand the significance of Web 2.0” however some schools don’t allow the technologies to be accessed as much as needed. Teachers that use and try then adapt their classrooms to the latest technological Web 2.0 find that they understand which ones work for certain situations.The purpose of this book is to help teachers integrate the Web 2.0 into the classroom. The chapters will “explain the most common tools and their uses”. The book will continue with “Google Earth, Wordle, Skype, Delicious, and more”. The chapters are broken down to what Web 2.0 is, why we use them, when to use them, how to use them, who is using it, and where to find them. The future is within our students’ hands. We are now at Web 2.0 and who knows how far it will go. We as teachers need to guide the students to use the Web for uses that they will learn from and gain “achievement in learning and advanced skills”.
Natasha Woodall Quezada
12/04/11
Chapter 11 Summary
This chapter breaks down all the web 2.0 tools discussed in the book. The tools are broken down into sections.
Natasha Woodall Quezada
11-30-11
Chapter 10 Summary
Audacity- multitrack audio editor and recorder, an easy to teach in the class. Record audio and store on computer as digital audio. Edit, fade, mix, effects, convert, and change speed. Used as a podcast students accomplish authentic learning. Students become more responsible for their work because others can hear their podcast products. http://audacity.sourceforge.net
Delicious- Tagging of websites that become accessable from any computer and a build in network to share your tagged sites. Also a search engine. In a classroom students can see what websites the teacher has tagged and may have a note attached telling what each site is for. http://delicious.com
Diigo- Similar to Delicious but you can also highlight, comment, skickynote, share on twitter, blog, or other social media. Teacher can create profile-less files for those students under 13 years old. www.diigo.com
Drupal- Allows groups/ individuals to manage their online content. School districts can use for their homepages, parent/student interactive website. www.skyline.org While using a hosting company such as www.site5.com you can automatically have Drupal installed.
Evernote- You can clip text, images, audio, PDF files and save them to one location. This helps students organize notes and info for research, text, photo, video that students can use on their phone, PC, or IPod. www.evernote.com
Google Earth- You can view the world, 3-D buildings, and students can view where they live and other places they may be researching. In the new ocean layer, you can plunge all the way to the floor of the sea. http://earth.google.com
Google Forms (Surveys)- To make an online survey form. When respondents submit results, it is automatically populates a Google spreadsheet. To sign in you need a Google account.
Google Reader and custom RSS feeds- Enables users to subscribe to a news source, blog, or webpage that is continually updated. http://reader.google.com
Issuu- A digital publishing platform for student’s work. Students can publish their work such as poetry booklets, comic books, and other creative works. http://issuu.com
Moodle- A course management system that is a safe online learning center for teachers and students to work in. http://moodle.org
Netvibes- Content aggregator site that pulls information from different sites and displays the information onto one site. You can create a new website for free without ads. Teachers can keep track of student’s blogs through this site. www.netvibes.com
Skype- Is videoconferencing system that allows you to see and talk to another person. You can also transfer files, call a landline phone, and text. www.skype.com/download
Timetoast- An online timeline creation tool. A timeline allows for students to understand, organize, and remember information. www.timetoast.com
Today’s meet- A teacher can create a private chatroom for students and the teacher gains instant feedback about student comprehension. http://todaysmeet.com
Voice thread- Students can setup presentations that include voice, video, text, or images, while allowing others to add to the presentation. http://voicethread.com
Voki- Students can personalize speaking avatars that can be embedded into any online space, such as websites, blogs, or wikis. www.voki.com
WizIQ- Is a virtual classroom environment that teachers and students communicate through videoconferencing. www.wiziq.com
Wordle- Creates word clouds from text- the most frequently used words creating a picture. www.wordle.net
I found that each one of these would be useful to use in the classroom. Some more than others.
Natasha Woodall Quezada
11-16-11
Chapter 9 Summary
Web 2.0 allows persons to write blogs, post images and videos, collaborate on documents, socialize, and others write comment on them. Web 3.0 is the semantic web where machines can read web pages much as humans can read them. Web 4.0 is deliverable and is based on who you are and what you do and what you need, it’s about activity.
It is ideal to provide schools and students with web access and customizable personal devices for every student. Teachers will be able to teach the students in a learning style they are most comfortable with. All the tools will be easy to access: images, voice, video, and more.
Technology plays an important role in communication from the presidential election to our own personal use. The ability to use emails, websites, blogs, and other resources to let others know what you want to say allow you to have a voice and have it heard. When students have outside access to worldly news they are kept up to date with current news and have the ability to access people who know about the subject they are researching, and many other possibilities. Through wikis and other online processing tools students and teachers conduct collaboration to each other and students within the networks.
Schools can also take advantage of the web through textbooks online. Not only will students have up to date materials but the schools will save money as well. By having lower cost technologies more children will have educational opportunities. Net-books and cell phones are the new laptops. They are small and convenient and encourage anytime, anywhere learning. I Pad, IPod, and cell phones allow students to blog, make comments, and discuss what the teacher has posted at an 24/7 convenience. Students who use the I Pad, IPod, or any other device they can use apps that the teacher has provided and also personalize the device with their own educational apps.
When students personalize their web pages, home pages, or anything to do with the web, they are not only personalizing it to meet their needs they are also learning from their experience. Students can pull information from sites to find information. Technology is the present and is more so the future. The teachers also learn how the students learn by reading their posts and observing how they utilize the web system. The teacher can make assessments through the past work that is posted online by each individual student.
Cloud service allows for all the information to be stored online and available to anyone who needs it and has access to it. Technology is different than it was when it first began. The web is more accessible through many resources and they are being used to teach, communicate, and collaborate.
Natasha Woodall Quezada
11-10-11
Chapter 8 summary
A wiki is a program to create projects that involve writing, editing, adding elements like images and videos. When students as ourselves are asked to produce assignments as a group, like our group or class wiki. We are writing what we learn. Wikipedia is a public wiki.
The benefits of a wiki in a classroom include group collaboration, problem solving, peer editing during writing process and electronic portfolios. Students have 24/7 access to the wiki. Each member can build upon what another member wrote and peer editing makes the work clearer. This encourages each writer to take responsibility of their actions and accountability. Teachers can also use to track the work that each student has done.
Teachers use wikis to foster collaborative learning. Along with group work the teacher sets expectations, due dates, and constant flow of feedback throughout the development of the project. The teacher also tracks the students work progress. The editing is basic so the students focus on the message and not the format. As students use the wiki they can learn to respect the contributions and thinking of others and take pride in the results.
When teachers use wikis in the professional environment to share with their teaching community they begin to develop professional development. They obtain this goal by providing their post of new found information, sharing the information, their strategies, thoughts, lessons, and to build on one another’s work. Also students of all ages are using wikis, ranging from elementary school to college and international schools.
When starting a wiki, you need to know what kind you want to use. www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers is where you would go to set up a wiki. Once you have made a wiki, then you can visit: www.educause.edu/eli/7thingsyoushouldknowaboutwikis/156807 for more information.
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Natasha Woodall Quezada11-02-11Chapter 7What are virtual environments? “They are online interactive systems in which multiple people sometimes millions of people share in the development of an interactive narrative.” One who uses those gains development of creativity, collaboration, and communication.Why are they useful? Virtual environments focus on social interaction such as Second Life- 3D. The user gets to meet others, join groups, socialize, participate in activities and professional development, and buy and sell property. Second Life if for those 18 years and older. Teen Second Life if for those 13-17 years old. Http://secondclassroom.ning.com is for teachers to support and collaborate, with others using Second Life. One group of social studies educators said, “They learn, collaborate, and share information to enhance their professional development and professional network. One study showed that students using virtual environments like MUVE found larger gains in understanding and achievement then students who didn’t use virtual environments. These resources engage minds, promote learning, encourage creative thinking, support inquiry based learning, conceptual understanding, encourage divergent and exploratory thinking.When are virtual environments used? If teachers want students to think and act like “journalists, artists, business managers, or engineers by using digital learning technologies to solve realistic complex performance task they will have students use epistemic games. These require students to work in teams, study materials presented, and develop a hypothesis regarding the cause of the disease. http://crlt.indiana.edu/research/qa.html is for students 9-12 years old. When students are working on these virtual environments they still need feedback from the teacher, reflection time, and an on-going instruction system.What about professional development? Teachers that are members of Second Life hold meetings and social events on site. They plan projects, share ideas, develop close friendships and all while communicating in real time.Who is using virtual environments? Preteens- www.webkins.com, children- www.clubpenguin.com, Second Life 18 years and up, Teen Second Life 13-17 years. Students learn by doing.How do you get started with a virtual environment? Before starting anything with your students you should become familiar with the program first. If in Second Life use http://secondlife.com and start at the orientation Island Public center. The International Society for Technology in Education for weekly meetings and discussions are found.Where can you find more information? http://simtech.com, www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=second_life:_educators_working_with_teens, and www.holymeatballs.org/pdfs/bestpractices.pdf.
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Natasha Woodall Quezada
10-26-11
Chapter 6 Summary
Many students are visual learners. Students use cell phones, computers, TV, and hand held devices to communicate. Students must develop the skills to process and analyze information delivered through images as well as understand the impact images have on a viewer. Students must also develop the ability to think critically about the image presented and decode its meaning. Web delivered tools, videos, and presentations are also tools that the students use.
Teachers can encourage students to create presentation that develop skills of inquiry, creative, and higher order thinking. When students create presentations these skill are developed as well as many others, which include:
- Discover relationships among ideas
- Develop new concepts and insights
- Collaborate with others
- Feed back on their ideas
- Relationship with others
- Communicate with real audiences
- Gain ownership of their work
- Commitment to learning
Teachers use digital storytelling as a video and photo tool. This helps students to improve thinking skills by encouraging them to write creatively and express themselves visually. www.flickr.com allows students to take, edit, post, and include their own photos. When students are encouraged to make video documentaries they engage themselves with the subject, learn, understand, and remember the information. Teachers use these documentaries as an assessment tool. These tools can evaluate student learning from the perspective of applying skills rather than from remembering facts for tests. www.teachertube.com students can post their videos for teacher, parents, and everyone to see. http://nhsglobalwarmingdocumentary.edublogs.org show how the entire process of creating video documentaries worked in her classroom.Teachers and students use video and photo tools for many different subjects some of these include:- Voice thread- this has helped with narration of family photos.
- www.toondoo.com this is to create cartoons that express information and opinion.
- www.voki.com this is to create an avatar with dialog.
There are many ways to get started. Some of the resources are outlined in this summary, Picasa, and windows live moviemaker is also a good way to start.Natasha Woodall Quezada10-19-11Chapter 5 Summary“The point of communicating with others is to learn, develop, and expand all that we know; to share ideas and information; or just to enjoy social interaction.” Social networking allows users to create links to web pages or collection of photos. Web based in turn means interaction over the internet. People can affiliate themselves with others with the same interest or ideas. Some communities such as teachers- discussing curriculum, assessments, or pedagogy, game players, and many others. www.whatissocialnetworking.com is an explanatory web site to how to use social networking. Tagging is another form of social networking. There are collaborative tagging, social classification, social tagging, and social indexing. Comments or artifacts, such as pictures are tagged as a way to categorize content.Social networking is a useful tool because humans are social creatures and we want to communicate with others. Some forms of social networks include: My Space, Facebook, Linkedin, ning, Nexopia, and many others. 60% of students reported that one of the most common topics of conversation on the social networking scene was education and 50% was of school work. You can also create your own social network. Ning is one for teachers and for teachers to use with students. This website allows for students to catch up on work, post questions and concerns, collaborate on projects, and many other reasons.Within the classroom teachers use social networking to enhance behaviorism, constructivism, and enhance social cultural perspectives. Most students already use social networks and teachers can use this as one of the abilities the students have already acquired. Teachers also benefit from social networks through the learning communities that they are connected to and having access to other teacher’s favorite websites. Twitter is another form of social network. It allows for a question to be sent out and others can answer the question to help. Some websites that have been integrated into the classrooms are http://projectpeace.ning.com , http://museumsweb20.ning.com and many more to benefit further education.Getting started with social networking, most websites walk you through the process when you log onto the website. Some that might seem useful maybe: www.ning.com , www.teachingforchange.org, or www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_kf7tykvc
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Natasha Woodall Quezada
10-12-11
Chapter 4 Summary
Productivity applications are typical tools that the computer has, such as word processing and presentation tools, except they are free and stored on company’s servers. These are reachable by those who have access from any connection to the web. These programs store information securely while remaining online. The files you compose can also be downloaded to your computer. The web site http://docs.google.com/templates?category=7&sort=hottest&pli=1 is a helpful website.Productivity applications such as Google doc not only have the same programs that the computer has it also allows you to create 3-D models and publish websites. http://sketchup.google.com , http://reader.google.com , www.zoho.comThere are many reasons why teachers and students use these tools. One is to have information whenever it is needed. No need to worry about which flash drive has the information. Two when teachers use Web 2.0 tools there are no upgrade expenses. These programs automatically upgrade without charging. Three the information stored with these tools online are private and only those who have access can see the information. Four the information can be shared publically for discussions or feedback. One note is that the Web 2.0 tools are not as easy to use as the programs on the computers.Teacher’s goals and purposes have been to make public the types of development, creativity, and other activities that their students do. Many teachers write blogs on what they use these tools for. The activities range from collaborative writing assignments, to students taking quizzes on line, and posting the syllabus for class.Professional development happens in universities as well as in the regular school setting. They use these programs to communicate with authors and participate in cooperative learning groups. School officials prepare workshop outlines for info to teach the teachers and many other useful techniques. Teachers and students use the Web 2.0 tools. Teachers communicate to each other. Teachers and students can interact with other teachers and students from different countries.How to get started with productivity tools.vReview Google docs at http://docs.google.com/present/view?skipauth=true&id=ddnctvgt_170cbskf68vCreate an account- this is free for individually or a fee for classroom accounts (students will need an email and be 13 years of age)vOnce you have your own account you can now create a word processing file, spreadsheet, or a presentation.vTo share your work, Click on the share tabOther websites to visit are: www.google.com/educators/learning_materials/we_cribsheet.pdfwww.youtube.com/watch?v=typjJK6LZdmhttp://vodpod.com/watch/497154-google-docs-in-plain-english
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Natasha Woodall Quezada10-05-11Chapter 3 SummaryA podcast is an audio or video net-cast file and a vodcast is a video podcast and can be delivered live as it happens. Special software known as a pod-catcher (such as ITunes) is used for access, updates, and downloads.Once you have downloaded these files you can use them offline and keep them as long as you like. Podcast are useful for classes because if the class is following an event you as a teacher can have instant up to date information about that topic. Teachers use podcasts because they are user friendly and convenient even preschool students have been able to use them. Educators have integrated podcasts and vodcasts in the classroom by having the students create their own.
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Natasha Woodall Quezada
Chapter 2 summary
09/28/11
What is a microblog?
A microblog is a program that allows you as a writer to send short messages in a fast amount of time to multiple readers. Twitter is an example of a microblog. Twitter is a mixture of blogging and text messaging that has a character limitation. This is a social network that motivates the writer to be clear and to the point. Writers can follow other writer's tweets, limit their audiences, or make their tweets available to the public. Twitter has excelled because of the convience to communicate from many sources such as cell phones at any given time. Twitter has also branched out into other online applications.
Why is twitter a useful tool?
Along with the general public educators also use twitter. The teachers use this as a source to gain information or advice quickly. There is also twitters for specially for teachers where they can search for each other. Most benefit from twitting by gaining communication with other professionals and finding dates of professional development courses.
When do teacher use twitter?
Teacher integrate twitter into the classroom for many reasons. When students use twitter they gain a voice an an audience from not only classmates but possibly peers in different grades within the same school. Students also gain communication and writing skills through writing tweets.
Who is using microblogging for teaching?
Teachers from all areas of study use twitter in science class to math classes. Teachers use this time to have students post their predictions about discussions related to class. Teachers have also gone through tweets and prepared questions for the students to answer. Teachers can also have choice options for students choose. Once chosen the students continue the stories that were started by the teacher by tweeting.
How do you get started with twitter?
*Go to twitter.com__
*Fill in your name
*Make a user name and password
*Click create my account
*Go to settings
*Create a profile
*Check "protect my updates box"
*You can authorize users as you go along.
- Send people your twitter page: www.twitter.com/username
*Send a tweet by typing "What are you doing?"To add people:
- Log on
- Go to another users twitter page and click follow or search for people through your own page.
Where can you find more information about microblogging?- http://suewaters.wikispaces.com/twitter
- http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com
- www.ideatoinspire.co.uk/twitter.htm
- www.scribe.com/doc/14062777/twitter-handbook-for-teachers
Natasha Woodall Quezada09-21-11Summary of Chapter 1What is a blog? An easy to use internet source that invites others to provide feedback on comments or questions made. Anyone respond to the blogs and students are included. If students follow a blog they are pushed to think carefully about what they write and how they write it because the blog is public. A blog has the most resent info posted first. This makes it easier to follow. Blog tools are useful because it helps learners get to the point. Blogs help “develop thinking, analytical, and communication skills.” Blogs can also include videos and links to other web sites, these can be the starter of the blog topic or back up for the responder.Teachers are also among those who blog. Teachers use blogs in the classroom setting. When students are asked to blog instead of writing just for the teacher, they write more thoughtfully and have a feeling of accomplishment because the post is instantaneous. Teachers can direct the students to be creative with the blogs by including multimedia. Teachers can pull current information from a blog that is from another teacher of school official. Teachers can discuss the new information together and also have a “time to process literature that might otherwise be overlooked.”Students need to know how to collaborate with others and the blog allows for them “accept constructive criticism in their learning community.” Communication between students is a given with blogs. Students will gain the skills to communicate effectively through their carful thinking and the helpful comments from the other students. Through blogs students can gain connections from the wider world and understand that what they say can impact the world. When posting or responding to a blog the student needs to think critically which includes “a logical set of facts, ideas, and persuasive arguments.” The blogs add to the information literacy for the responder. A blog can become a digital portfolio because the writers skills are kept in the blog and the teacher can see the growth of the skills over time.Who is using blogging for teaching and learning? High risk 11th grade learners showed that they learned and felt comfortable at the same time. A Teacher in middle school saw the motivation that came with the blogging of the books they read and discussed with team mates. In Spanish and humanities classes the middle school teacher found that the students were “continuously writing their comments.” An 11th grade child development class was asked to blog about their experiences they had when they visited a Head start class. The “students took ownership of their own learning.” A high school teacher found that when the students blogged the “impacts on learning included, engagement, community building, accountability, and ethical researching.” An elementary teacher had the students explain their position of why their animal should be saved. In an elementary school the school mascot can be taken to places with students and staff and write a blog about where the mascot has been.How do you get started with blogs? First log into www.blogger.com/start. Second fill out form with contact information. Third name your blog. Fourth enter a blog address. Fifth choose a template. Sixth write your first blog. There are five rules to blogging. First read carefully. Second consider the blogs strengths and weaknesses. Third start with the strengths. Forth give specifics to the nice things you say. And the fifth is to give constructive criticism.To assess students for blogs, first “ask what the student did well, second think of how well reasoned the writing of the student was, third how well developed was the writing, fourth to what extent was their writing analytical about the topic, fifth how well did they communicate their thinking, and sixth to what extent did their blog generate real discussion?”You can find more information about blogging on the web. Also if you don’t like your blog you can delete it and start over.__
Natasha Woodall QuezadaSummary of Introduction09-19-11The students in our classes have been introduced to digital tools and how to use those most of their lives. Students need guidance to use these tools instead of playing with them. As a teacher I need to know how, when, and which digital tool to use when the opportunity arises.Students use online resources in their everyday lives. This is the future. Teachers that use technology in their classrooms were asked how it helped and “38% said that it helped with project based learning, 29% said that it helped increase critical thinking skills, and 24 % reported that it resulted in a strong ability to communicate. The main focus in technology is for teachers to obtain professional development to distinguish which particular tool to use at any given time.For the communication aspect students may work harder because their work can be viewed by other students. The students can communicate to each other by commenting on their work and giving positive feedback. Students can collaborate together by posting ideas and getting feedback from each other. This allows for the teacher to track changes and watch the students’ progress. Students learn interactively. The best way for students to learn is to learn connectedness. This is taking the knowledge they have and building upon it. Creating an electronic community of learners will combine tools, work, peers, and audiences together to help students find groups of those who share common interests. We as teachers want to help students learn how to elevate the “distractions between basic and higher order thinking skills.Contextualization is the tagging and metadata that can help students take understood knowledge and apply it to new and different situations. Web 2.0 applications help students “use applications online, store documents online, and find lessons and other students online”. Thus, helping schools “provide and immediate picture of student learning”. New tools that are available online are at no cost to use. There may be training needed but as far as the cost of those online tools there is no cost. Students will be able to learn in new ways and widen their horizon.There are some things to watch out for since the students “know” more about the web and technology than teachers do. Students need to be guided as to how to use the web properly and abide by the copyright laws and plagiarism. Also when students collaborate together as a community, some student may reiterate what they read from the other students instead of thinking on their own. Teachers and principals “understand the significance of Web 2.0” however some schools don’t allow the technologies to be accessed as much as needed. Teachers that use and try then adapt their classrooms to the latest technological Web 2.0 find that they understand which ones work for certain situations.The purpose of this book is to help teachers integrate the Web 2.0 into the classroom. The chapters will “explain the most common tools and their uses”. The book will continue with “Google Earth, Wordle, Skype, Delicious, and more”. The chapters are broken down to what Web 2.0 is, why we use them, when to use them, how to use them, who is using it, and where to find them. The future is within our students’ hands. We are now at Web 2.0 and who knows how far it will go. We as teachers need to guide the students to use the Web for uses that they will learn from and gain “achievement in learning and advanced skills”.